Critique Request 03 - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

08/11/2002 09:39:16 PM · #1

Greetings Again...

Alecia

Canon EOS-10D

08/11/2002 09:51:06 PM · #2

ok, john! this one is a nice picture, i really like the swirly sky contrasting with the lines of the trees and shadows. i like the way the sun was captured hitting the front of the trees. and i like the angle. however, would i put this on my wall? nah, too boring. it does remind me of the woods where i used to live though, so that's kinda cool.

lisae

Olympus C-720UZ

08/11/2002 10:02:12 PM · #3

To me, the great thing about this photo is that it's abstract in a really fractal way (as good nature photos are), but it has a really strong focus at a point one third from the bottom and a third in from the left. There's no "subject" there, the way most people would apply the rule of thirds, but if you look closely, the vertical trees, sloping horizon, and the lowest swirl of the clouds all intersect there. Your eyes can't help being sucked to that point, then running off and following one of those three features to different parts of the photo, and being sucked back again :). Very cool.

David Ey

Nikon D80

08/11/2002 10:09:24 PM · #4

ahh yes, John. This is a nice piece of work. Well framed and with the horizon on a slight angle, gives us the true feeling of the hillside.(is this braking one of the rules?)
The dark earth and dark upper sky with the lighter center seem to pull you right thru the trees giving great depth. The height to width ratio looks right too but a pan. shot might have given to more interest. I like it a lot.
Did I miss #02?

* This message has been edited by the author on 8/11/2002 10:17:02 PM.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/11/2002 10:17:09 PM · #5

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Greetings Again...

Let's try another one....

Feels like half the picture - could be better either wider, in a horizontal format
or higher, with some sky above the trees on the left. Seems crampt/
constrained to me.

The sky looks interesting and the cloud patterns are good and well
exposed. Light is okay, but not too exciting, although there are at
least shadows across the ground.

Good subject for B&W though.

aelith

Olympus C-3020Z

08/11/2002 10:31:20 PM · #6

Originally posted by David Ey:
ahh yes, John. This is a nice piece of work. Well framed and with the horizon on a slight angle, gives us the true feeling of the hillside.(is this braking one of the rules?)
The dark earth and dark upper sky with the lighter center seem to pull you right thru the trees giving great depth. The height to width ratio looks right too but a pan. shot might have given to more interest. I like it a lot.
Did I miss #02

#2 was "pie and fork" just a few threads back.

At first I agreed with everything that's been said. Great B&W, texture, movement, depth. But the clouds begin to bother me, an extra business that the picture might do better without. The stark brances would show up better against a stark sky and echo the exposed earth between the trees. Love these threads, John

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

08/11/2002 10:53:09 PM · #7

I musta missed #01

Ronin

Sony DSC-S85

08/11/2002 11:10:06 PM · #8

This is one of those images that just doesnt work scaled down. I would love to see this as an 8x10, but with the curent scale it looses the "wow" factor,.. but then thats just me. of course its perfectly captured, i just cant feel the power of the image in its limited scale.

jeremya

Minolta DiMAGE 7i

08/11/2002 11:22:49 PM · #9

I'd love to see a more detailed version :-)

Great lighting and depth!
Also there is good movment and flow.

As for lack of subject... there's plenty as the whole photo contains the subject... the trees! This photo is so busy it would detract from any other subject.

On an abstract level this is a great photo.. its almost as if the trees and growing into the sky or the whisps of clouds are the leafs of the tree...

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/12/2002 08:05:01 AM · #10

bump

floyd

Canon EOS-5D

08/12/2002 08:47:32 AM · #11

I agree 100% with Lisae about the subject and focus of the shot. And this is the first of your critique pictures that I've *really* liked. The only criticism I have is that it's too small so I can't see enough of that lovely intricate detail in there.

This one really captures something about the moment. Windy - stark - bleak.

John

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

08/12/2002 08:49:03 AM · #12

There are so many things to like here... the two horizons (steep sloped foreground, gentler sloped background)... The shadow line on the left side of each tree... The detail in the sky definately works for me...

But my favorite part was the one leaf in the upper right... I almost find myself cheering for it... Kind of a "Hang in there! Spring or Bust!" thing... Or is that a bird? Hmmm, Nevermind :)

The only downsides I see are that the resize probably is not doing this image justice, and after Gordon pointed it out, I do kind of notice the tops of the trees on the left are cramped (Doubt I would have noticed it on my own though)...

Overall, great shot... Brings me back to days I spent in similar woods...

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/12/2002 11:38:59 AM · #13

I agree about the size... I will make sure I post larger images next time...

kathleenm

Canon EOS-D60

08/12/2002 11:42:50 AM · #14

My boyfriend has a shot very similar to this. (if you live in Colorado you *must* take aspen photos) I like the front lighting on the trunks and the ominous sky. I agree that this photo would have much more impact larger.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

08/12/2002 11:54:33 AM · #15

When I first seen the photo I thought, wow great b/w, but the more I looked at it (like a dpchallenger) the more I want to see something else in the picture. Like something is missing. But, I am just an amateur.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/12/2002 12:08:54 PM · #16

Originally posted by kathleenm:
My boyfriend has a shot very similar to this. (if you live in Colorado you *must* take aspen photos) I like the front lighting on the trunks and the ominous sky. I agree that this photo would have much more impact larger.

:))

Martin

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

08/12/2002 02:27:44 PM · #17

John, how do you put your image within your message? I have a woodland shot, (which are my favourite type of scene) and I'd love your thoughts on it! I think your shot is superb, the b/w gives it so much atmosphere. If i tried to be negative I could only say that the tops of the trees are almost lost in that wonderful sky.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/12/2002 02:49:01 PM · #18

Originally posted by Martin:
John, how do you put your image within your message? I have a woodland shot, (which are my favourite type of scene) and I'd love your thoughts on it! I think your shot is superb, the b/w gives it so much atmosphere. If i tried to be negative I could only say that the tops of the trees are almost lost in that wonderful sky.

Well I'm not John, but anyway, when you are editing your message
click on the little blue & green icon at the upper right of the
message entry box and it will ask you for a url of your image.

You'll need to have uploaded it to a web site somewhere first before
you can link to it (I use www.pbase.com)

Alternatively you can just type

[im g] url of your image.jpg[/im g] without the spaces between the
im's and g's

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

08/12/2002 03:28:21 PM · #19

Originally posted by Ronin:
This is one of those images that just doesnt work scaled down. I would love to see this as an 8x10, but with the curent scale it looses the "wow" factor,.. but then thats just me. of course its perfectly captured, i just cant feel the power of the image in its limited scale.

I am (mostly) in agreement with this. I love the shot, but I want to see it bigger - I think it is a very powerful shot with lots of movement and interest. Can you link us to a hi-res version....?